Andrea Cambern and I are sitting in Pistacia Vera, holiday music is piping through the space and the explosive blast of the espresso machine routinely interrupts the jolly jingles. As we talk, the beloved Channel 10 anchor is livelier and effervescent than her on-screen persona, if such a thing is possible. Decked out in toasty browns, with long earrings punctuating each statement, the Arizona transplant talks delightedly about her adopted city and pensively about recently stepping down from the job she’s held since 1991. About halfway into the conversation, a beautiful, statuesque woman breezes into the bakery. In tandem, we announce to the stranger that she is altogether fabulous. “And if you put that purse down, it might not be there later,” laughs Cambern. It’s this ease with the public and the ability to connect that has made her such a popular public figure. And to think, 20 years ago, she couldn’t even find Columbus on the map.

What were your first thoughts when Channel 10 gave called you up for an interview?

It’s kinda crazy, but … “Where’s Columbus Ohio?” (laughs) I had no impression about it, so I started doing some research and that’s when something amazing happened. Everybody I talked to who had roots here, had grown up here, gone to school here, had worked here, had family here, had nothing but good things to say about it. It was the job of a lifetime for me. When I first came here for my job interview, they took me to lunch at Lindey’s. It was on an autumn day, with blue skies, the leaves were falling, cobblestone streets, people were in business suits, and there was this great energy and hustle and bustle. Living in Arizona, there was never any of that – nothing was older than five years. Everybody was walking around in flip-flops and there’s this laidback resort feel. I remember walking out of that interview, that lunch, and calling my husband. I was engaged at the time, my husband was from the West Coast … I said, ‘Columbus Ohio, here we go! How much do you love me, man?’ I also said, ‘If I get this job, I know exactly where we’re going to live. And it’s the most beautiful little community’ – I just fell in love with German Village that day. And so we did! Every time I walk into that building, I remember that day.

With winning numerous awards, including six Emmys, surely you’ve gotten offers from other markets?

There were opportunities along the way and each time we would say step back and say, ‘Could our quality of life really be any better? Is the unknown more valuable to us then this wonderful existence that we have here?’ We have this great community, we’ve developed this great group of friends, job security in this business is unheard of, and we chose to stay. There was a lot of soul searching in those times. You know, bigger market, biiiiiiig opportunities, or the happiness that you already know and love. We have no regrets; we know we made the right choice.

Who is your greatest inspiration?

I know it sounds so typical, but my mom was a great inspiration to me. My biggest critic, my most ardent fan, my best friend – all of those things, everything all rolled into one. She was a woman who had a lot of challenges growing up, she came from a very poor family, an alcoholic father, wasn’t educated, all of those things, but yet she managed to just be a pillar in my life and her insight and advice was always so right on. I miss her terribly every single day. She was a great influence.

I feel like I should call my mother right now.

When you can’t call her, it’s the most profound feeling … when there’s not that phone to pick up when she’s gone. I lost her six years ago. She was diagnosed with cancer when I was a little girl and back in the day, they didn’t have chemotherapy, they didn’t know cancer and they virtually told her to get her life in order, there was no hope. And, you know, she went on to live this healthy great life … 40 more years of amazing life and then it reared its ugly head and came back. It was too much the second time around. We grew very close the older I got.

Was that experience the impetus for your health activism?

I would like to say that that was the case. I really floundered in my life. I was doing soul-searching for a very long time. I was not one of those people who at a very young age they know what they want to be, every decision they make is well-thought out, planned – I was clueless. I was totally clueless. I got out of high school, started at Arizona State and really had no idea what I wanted to be or do. I was in an abusive relationship and that really had a profound impact on my life. I wasn’t attending class, I was wasting time, wasting my parents’ money, and this relationship was all consuming. I decided to leave school and get out of town, to save my life basically. I became a flight attendant. Back then, it was exciting to fly! You got dressed up, you looked forward to it – they carved meat in first class. We wore fancy Halston uniforms. It was a great experience. I knew it wouldn’t be for long, but I needed to see the world, I needed to grow up. I needed to be alone and get away, clear my mind and figure out what on earth I was going to do. So I did that for about a year and half, maybe. I loved Europe and got to see some great cities. It was an international airline, Braniff. It was fun. I achieved my goal with that and I came back and said, ‘Get busy, what are you gonna do?’

And how did that eventually lead you to the news desk?

I was doing all kinds of different jobs and things and one thing led to another to another and I got into public relations and marketing. Through that experience, I was exposed to television and the media ­­– placing stories, pitching stories, writing articles, all of the above. I became just enthralled by the whole news gathering process. That you can come up with an idea in the morning, whatever was topical, gather the information that day and then be in people’s living rooms that night with a story. So, very late in my career, I decided, that’s what I want to be when I grow up. I switched gears and started pounding the pavement, knocking on doors, talking to everyone I could and had a lot of doors closed. Eventually, I got one opportunity that led to another and another and another.

What is your best career advice?

When I go and speak to classes, I say don’t do anything I did, except persevere. Follow your heart and don’t let anyone else tell you that you can’t. I mean, when I was starting, I sent out all my tapes to stations all over the country hoping one … but with this untraditional background – I didn’t get a degree, I didn’t start in a small market, they all came back, thanks, but no thanks. Then I finally got this call from a local news director and he says, come on in. I got my little anchor-looking outfit, cut my hair in a little anchor-looking bob and I walked in. I was so excited and he said to me, You know, I’ve been in this business a long time and I think I’m a pretty good judge of talent and I looked at your tape. I’ve hired a lot of people and I’ve fired a lot of people, and I’m here to tell you that some people are cut out for this business and some aren’t and you are not. He said, “Don’t waste your time and don’t waste mine.” At that moment, I decided I’ve got to continue doing what I’m doing or I’ve got to send out a bunch more tapes and just see what happens. Thank God I did and thank God I didn’t follow that man’s advice. So, that’s my message. Just persevere.

What happened to the news director?

He eventually got fired, not that the moral of the story is sweet revenge, but it just goes to show you that someone you think is the end all, be all isn’t necessarily. I’m glad I didn’t let someone burst my bubble. That’s why I am so thankful everyday that I have this job. Amazed by it really. That story is who I am and it really defines me, really. That moment.

What were you like as a child?

Oh, I was horrible. That’s why I have two cats today and no children. I was trouble, I was trouble. I think that had something to do with moving in 8th grade and moving away from the friends I had in Chicago to Arizona. I got into the wrong crowd and was running out at night, sneaking out … I was wild. When I got to high school, I got it together. You know, I got my grades together, I got involved in student council, I became a cheerleader. I kind of found myself in high school and, then again, when I got out of high school, I fell in with the wrong person. I guess I was very insecure with myself and allowed people to kind of lead me and guide me and certainly not always in the right direction. It kind of scares me that that person is still lurking … which is really weird. You just wonder, you look back and think, who was that person and are they still in there? But I ended up with this amazing relationship and you realize how relationships are supposed to be. It’s not supposed to be volatile and emotional, it’s supposed to be easy. I found this great love; I knew the minute we spoke. We met in July and were married in December. And we’ve been together 20 years.

How did you and Brett meet?

He was living in the same apartment complex as my mom and she was like, ‘OOOOhhhhh, you gotta see this man at the pool!’ We spied on each other across the pool for months and one day, both ended up in the water at the same tine and started a conversation and we’ve been together ever since in a really lovely, lovely way. I think moving to Columbus had a lot to do with that because we got engaged, I got the job offer, we moved here, then we got married and we were starting out life together in this brand new place. Every restaurant we discovered, every street, every person we met became us, not his life or my life, but melding our lives. It was like this new fresh start. We always say moving to Columbus was such a gift, so maybe that’s why I feel so fondly about it.

What did you do for your anniversary?

It was 20 years New Year’s Eve. We don’t do gifts usually, only for milestone events like this. We found a jewelry artist, Heather Moore, who is making me a charm and Brett a leather bracelet with the same charm – it’ll say 43206, which is our zip code here, but the “20” is going to be in a different metal because it’s our 20th anniversary.

You smile so brightly when you talk about Brett, what’s your secret?

I think respect is really important and friendship is most important. I think you have to like the person before you can love them. Obviously at first it’s all butterflies and rainbows and that magnetism and there’s attraction, but when all that wears away and your butt starts sagging and your boobs are dropping, I think that the true friendship you have is critical. I like him; he is like the best person. We’ve never had an argument if that tells you anything. We disagree, but we’ve never had a cross word … it’s the craziest thing. I’m very lucky.

What is your most memorable story?

Maybe the most profound story I ever did was about a fertility treatment. I got a call from a woman after the story ran and she’s like, “Andrea, I was making dinner tonight and I heard you talking about this new treatment and my husband and I have been trying for years. We’ve tried everything and we’ve exhausted our resources and our emotional reserves. But I heard this thing you were talking about and I thought I would call and ask you who it was.” I gave her the information, it’s this doctor at this clinic and I never gave it much thought. And six months later, she called me back and said, “I know you won’t remember my call but I just wanted to tell you that we sought out the doctor and the treatment and we’re expecting.” She went on to have that baby and to have another baby. It was a reminder that what we do on TV isn’t just about death and destruction and this shooting and this corruption, it’s that we have a great opportunity to impact lives in a way that you never even really know. Those kinds of stories resonate with me.

Did they name the baby after you?

No, but I did meet that baby. But somebody sent me a baby picture, said she was a fan and wanted to inspire her daughter, so she named her daughter after me. Her first name is Cambern. That poor child probably has my picture up on a wall and throws darts at it every single day. It’s the nicest thing I’ve ever heard, but that poor kid. I’m hoping they call her Cam (laughs).

Have you ever seen a drag version of yourself?

Yes! Yes! A few years ago at the Doo Dah parade, the theme was “Commit to Be Lit.” I was the not-so-grand-marshal and I walked the street with my drag queen and she was walking with a cigarette in one hand and a martini glass in the other, hilarious. The gay community has embraced me from day one and I’ve always had a lot of gay friends in my life. When I lived Arizona, I was a disco queen, that’s how far back it goes. While kids were going to the prom, I was going dancing with my fake ID. I’ve always been very comfortable with diversity – be whoever you are, it’s wonderful. We made this great connection early on, so the gay community has been very supportive. They’re very loyal and honest. I have more gay friends than straight friends, probably. Remember David’s on Main? I remember, very early on, being invited to the basement to speak to a group of people. I was new in town, they just wanted to get to know me, and they asked me, “What would you do if your kids were gay?” And I said, “Well, I don’t have kids, I have cats, and I think they are.” Well, that was it. We were in (laughs).

How do you feel about your upcoming retirement from 10TV?

I’m not retiring. Don’t say that word. Let’s call it reinventing, reinvigorating, um, redefining … retire is not in my vocabulary. I’ve always said if I could be the one to pick that time and wrap a bow around this gift on my terms – that would be a wonderful way to go. I don’t think there’s ever going to be a good time to do that. I am not ready to do that. But my heart says, 20 years is the perfect milestone – but I’m scared to death. I can’t sleep at night, I have news-mares. The thought of walking along the beach with Brett, and sitting and having a glass of wine is lovely, but I know me and I’ve worked since I was 15 years old. I go in emotional waves. One day, I’m very excited about this chance to reinvent and be anything I want in the world. I’m gonna have dreads, different colored hair, I can get piercings, I can wear whatever I want, I can be crazy, I can change my name and call myself Andy, which is the name I grew up with. How exciting is that? The next day, it’s like, ‘Are you kidding?’ (laughs).

Any ideas about what you’re going to do next?

I wish I could tell you that I’ve always had this one thing that I wanted to do, but I can’t. So I need to figure out what that is, but when I do, it will hit me like it did when I first walked into a newsroom, I know it will come to me. You know what? Maybe I’ll go back and get my degree and really be an Ohio State alumni. I’m thinking about that. My mom always said, follow your heart and not your head. And, so my heart says, this is another chapter and I’ve got time.